lilo000's reviews
186 reviews

4.15⭐️
Great storytelling, I got pretty invested in the end, and I appreciated that when stakes went up it felt like the packng moved a little faster too. Even though it was younger fiction, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would 

I'm not sure why I didn't realize this was YA. I appreciated Bilbo as a character and his balance between cozy/safe vs. adventurous. I think my general consensus toward this book was sort of just tepid though. I had difficulty believing that so many individuals were convinced to go on such a treacherous/unknown journey to them when it was all for riches - I think I had expected there to be some greater call to action for them.

This book was really sweet - it read like a combination of a diary and storytelling. It felt very high school. I think some of the characters were more emotionally mature than I'd've expected from a high schooler but maybe that had more to do with reading it as a story with minor time-jumps, rather than living a high school experience in real-time. Makes me sad that people have described the school where people aren't bullied or mistreated for who they are as 'fantasy.' 

With their story set in almost Victorian society, I thought it was interesting (in a good way) that male interest so pro-women empowerment, but I guess this is really a fictitious world in actuality. I did get invested in the main character's love life — they both definitely hit the *yearn* stage, but it was entertaining for sure. I think with the first book, it took me a bit longer to get invested with how they were acting, but I think because we followed Daphne more consistently, I found it easier to get invested in what she wanted and see her perspective a bit more. I don't know that I was invested enough in Araminta to read the next book if/when it comes out — as much as she was a character, I didn't feel like they gave her enough substance for me to want to read a whole book about her. I think I just didn't prefer the title of this book, oops

4.1 * This book did slow down a bit in the middle, the humor was entertaining for sure. The side characters really made this book. A great standalone book and just the amount of cozy I was aiming for. 

3.8⭐️  I honestly thought I'd end up liking this more, considering the set-up and description. Idk William's situation felt a little contrived — or I just don't appreciate when someone feels like they explicitly have to put on multiple selves and commit so much to the bit that people are betrayed - actors.  I think I also didn't appreciate how much they swung back and forth in the plot, as far as where they were at with each other in terms of their relationship. 

Not my typical book. I'd say the pacing flitted between medium and fast-paced. Still an entertaining read, would recommend as far as fairytale retellings go

3.8 stars I thought the epilogue was cute and on theme, but I found it a little implausible how much of a saint Maddy is

— I mean, she seems to have built her whole life structure around Emma's trauma and needs

, which is great as far as best friends go but seemed unreasonable, especially for Maddy's sake. This was still an enjoyable read and plot/story arc. I appreciated that we got a bit of

a redemption arc for

Neil and a definite connect back to the first book. I felt like the *in between* time for Emma

when she had left

felt realistic/not overly dramatized

I mean, realistically, Justin had responsibilities and couldn't really afford to fall into a dramatic slump for 6 months with 3 kids to take care of, but I'm surprised he didn't lash out when she'd gone for 6 months to return hoping to pick things back up — of course it's more complicated, but still, I expect less of men